Thursday, October 20, 2016
12:30 pm – 9:00 pm
BMO Centre – Hall C
1410 Olympic Way SE

The Small Business Calgary Conference is not just about celebrating small business, but it's also about giving you the chance to learn from some of the greatest entrepreneurial minds in Canada. 

We're excited to announce that this year's keynote speaker will be Michele Romanow. A powerhouse of the Canadian tech industry, Michele has four successful (and innovative) businesses under her belt and one of the newest Dragons on Dragons' Den.

Come hear about growing innovative businesses from one of the most powerful female entrepreneurs in Canada's tech industry.

Did you know the Calgary Chamber can help with Certificates of Origin or export invoices? We also offer commissioner of oath services for all your document certification needs.

To give you easy, hassle-free access to these services, we built an online tool that allows you to obtain stamped Certificates of Origin and other shipping documents online, from the comfort of your office.

Contact Michael Andriescu at accounting@calgarychamber.com to get setup with an online account today.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Bow River Barley Mill
201 Barclay Parade SW

There is no doubt that companies get beaten up in a down economy. But, with the right leadership, there are still many businesses in our city that are thriving and even experiencing exponential growth.

But how do they do it? At our next Fast-Growth Champions, get their first-hand advice on everything from strategic decision making process to addressing change management, and leading through exponential growth to handling stress.

You'll hear from:

• Ryan Hoult, CEO, Hatsize Learning Corporation
• Teresa Spinelli, President, Italian Centre Shop Ltd.
• Mike Dunn, Professional Implementer, EOS

Join us for an after-work cocktail, a slice of prawn and pesto flatbread, fantastic networking and inspiring stories.

We need your help to find the local company who you think is the best of the best. The People's Choice Award is a new addition to the Small Business Calgary Awards for 2016, and it's all about finding the business that you, the people, think is the unsung hero of our community.

Voting is open from now until 8:00 am on September 2nd.

And remember, you can only vote once for a specific company with your email address, so choose wisely.

Cast your vote now!

Thursday, September 8, 2016
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel
110 9th Avenue SE

Now more than ever, it is time to encourage innovation and growth in new sectors of our economy, and focus on Alberta’s competitive advantage in the agribusiness industry.

As part of our ongoing Agribusiness series, we are excited to announce the first address to the Calgary business community from the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Oneil Carlier. You will hear an update on the provincial government’s efforts in supporting innovation and productivity in Alberta’s agriculture industry, as well his work in connecting Alberta’s products to new markets.

Join us for a thoughtful discussion with Minister Oneil Carlier.

Thursday, September 8, 2016
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Calgary Chamber
600, 237 8th Avenue SE

As the entrepreneurial leader of a growth-oriented company, it can be hard to find a group of peers in a similar set of circumstances to help talk through the tough stuff. The Calgary Chamber's CEO peer mentoring programs can help you with that.

In this introductory session, learn how an ongoing CEO roundtable could help your business grow quickly and be more successful as you find your tribe and develop a meaningful business network.

Invest in yourself, invest in your company and join a CEO peer mentoring roundtable today.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016
7:00 am – 9:00 am
Hyatt Regency Calgary
700 Centre Street SE

In order for Calgary to stay competitive and strengthen our economy, we need to take the necessary steps to better engage in world markets through trade, attract elite-level talent and continue to develop the strategic infrastructure to support economic success.

For this to happen, we must have good policies and regulations that support growth. Minister of Municipal Affairs, Danielle Larivee, will provide an update on what the Alberta government is doing to help build more collaborative, prosperous and sustainable municipalities. She will also break down the changes made to the Municipal Government Act and what impact it may have on your business.

Come hear about building collaborative, competitive and sustainable municipalities from Minister Larivee.

• Yedlin: Budget update reflects investment uncertainty
• Why Canada should prioritize building a deeper relationship with China
• When having too many experts on a board backfires
• Life after 24 Sussex: What comes next for former prime ministers?
• 5 foolproof tips to make your mentorship count

Wednesday, October 5, 2016
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Hyatt Regency Calgary
700 Centre St SE

During times of economic uncertainty, it's important for employers to invest in the right kind of mental health programs to support a mentally healthy workforce.

To kick off National Depression Screening Week, the Calgary Counselling Centre in partnership with the Calgary Chamber will host Dr. David Goldbloom, Senior Medical Advisor at the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health, and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, to discuss how to build a corporate culture that is supportive and open about mental illness.

Join us for this important conversation, and tangible takeaways that you’ll be able to apply in your business.

There's nothing better than when someone gives your business or product a ringing endorsement on social media, and sometimes it's even worth paying for. However, a crackdown on sponsored bloggers and influencers in Canada is coming. 

The new guidelines, by Advertising Standards Canada, will require full disclosure of any paid endorsements or mentions of products and services. They apply to bloggers and individuals who use social media—including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat—to talk up companies and their brands in exchange for remuneration of any kind. They'll be coming into effect in early 2017.

Read this article to learn more about the new guidelines.

With new direct flights from China to Calgary, Travel Alberta has developed a Global Ready – China training program to help the hospitality and restaurant industries capitalize on international tourism. The newest module in their online training series launched yesterday, and helps local retailers prepare their stores and their staff for this growing market.

Retail Ready offers insights into the Chinese culture and economy as well as their expectations and decision-making process. It willl also cover information from attracting shoppers to providing the right payment options.

Register today!

CBC is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services.

Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

Learn more at CBC.ca/Calgary.

If you work in a profession where you routinely offer professional services or advice, you could be sued if a client believes you’ve made a mistake or left out important information.

As a Calgary Chamber member, you can request a free quote online for Professional Liability, Commercial General Liability or Directors and Officers Insurance, and purchase your coverage in minutes, at competitive rates, from the comfort of your home or office, without speaking to a broker.

Find out how Professional Liability Insurance can protect you, your reputation and your livelihood.

These Prestige members have shown a substantial and unwavering commitment to supporting the work of the Calgary Chamber. We thank our Prestige members: Suncor, TELUS, CNOOC Nexen, AltaLink, BDC, ATB Financial, Brookfield Residential, Shaw and University of Calgary, for helping to make Calgary a better place to live and work for all.